By Kim Yoo-chul
Staff Reporter
Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest liquid crystal display (LCD) television maker by sales, has revised upward its sales target of LCD TVs by 60 percent to 20 million units in 2008.
Experts say that the global LCD TV market will continue its current bullish move next year, spurred by a demand and supply imbalance.
Samsung is expected to sell 13 million LCD TVs by the end of the year, up 6.2 million units from the previous year, according to the company.
``We are close to changing our sales target for next year but this forecast is persuasive as Samsung has been expanding its presence in Europe, North America and Asian emerging markets, including China and India,’’ a Samsung spokesperson said Tuesday.
Global TV makers plan to deliver 111 million LCD TVs in 2008 but the international panel supply is estimated at only 105 million, indicating a shortage of 6 million units, according to the latest report from DisplaySearch, a Texas-based market research firm.
Samsung has finished the construction of its second plant in India, which is capable of producing 1.5 million sets annually, while over 40 inches sets are massively mobilized in North America to reclaim to the top spot.
Samsung dropped to No. 3 in LCD TV sales in the third quarter, taking up 10.7 percent, after Sharp (11.3 percent) and Vizio (10.9 percent), according to the researcher.
In the Chinese market, where next year’s Beijing Olympics are expected to boost demand for TVs, Samsung will sell over two million sets in 2008, cashing in on the global sports event.
``We are focusing on securing enough panels for the TVs. We are strengthening ties with panel suppliers so as not to lose a pie in the market,’’ the Samsung official said.
According to industry estimates, Samsung plans to buy 5 million panels from a Taiwan-based Chi Mei Optoelectronics and 4 million panels from AU Optronics to meet a part of demand for the South Korean company to deliver over 20 million LCD TVs.
Major TV manufacturers are expected to procure 22 million LCD panels from Taiwan-based firms in 2008.